Media literacy 101 Frank Baker media educator Media Literacy Clearinghouse Berkeley County Reading and Writing Institutes Berkeley County Reading and Writing Institutes

Media literacy 101 “It would be a breach of our duties as teachers for us to ignore the rhetorical power of visual forms of media in combination with text and sound…the critical media literacy we need to teach must include evaluation of these media, lest our students fail to see, understand, and learn to harness the persuasive power of visual media.” NCTE Resolution on Visual/Media Literacy “It would be a breach of our duties as teachers for us to ignore the rhetorical power of visual forms of media in combination with text and sound…the critical media literacy we need to teach must include evaluation of these media, lest our students fail to see, understand, and learn to harness the persuasive power of visual media.” NCTE Resolution on Visual/Media Literacy

Media literacy 101

“Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, they (and their teachers) receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects.” Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

Media literacy 101 American Association of School Libraries American Association of School Libraries International Reading Association International Reading Association Natl Board of Professional Teaching Standards Natl Board of Professional Teaching Standards National Council for Teachers of English National Council for Teachers of English National Middle Schools Association National Middle Schools Association Partnership for 21 st Century Skills Partnership for 21 st Century Skills White House Office of National Drug Control Policy White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

Media literacy 101 What is media literacy? OR OR Why should your students become media literate?

Media literacy 101 Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniques. More specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media products. (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997) Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniques. More specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media products. (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997)

What media literacy is:

Media literacy in SC ELA ElementaryMiddle High School Recognize details, setting, characters and cause and effect in material from nonprint sources Demonstrate the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, to compare and contrast info and ideas, and make inferences in regard to what is viewed Analyze nonprint sources for accuracy, bias, intent and purpose

Media literacy 101 "If video is how we are communicating and persuading in this new century, why aren't more students writing screenplays as part of their schoolwork?“ Heidi Hayes Jacob "If video is how we are communicating and persuading in this new century, why aren't more students writing screenplays as part of their schoolwork?“ Heidi Hayes Jacob

Core Concepts All media are constructed All media are constructed Media are constructed using unique languages with their own set of rules Media are constructed using unique languages with their own set of rules Media convey values and points of view Media convey values and points of view Audiences negotiate meaning Audiences negotiate meaning Media = Power + Profit Media = Power + Profit Source: Center for Media Literacy Source: Center for Media Literacy

All media are constructed

What is this? No, this is a PHOTOGRAPH of a horse.

Media are constructed using unique languages with their own set of rules Language of film Camera Lights Sound/Music Sets Editing

Media convey values and points-of-view

Audiences negotiate meaning

Media = Power + Profit Big 5 Media FOX (News Corp) NBC (GE) CBS (Viacom) ABC (Disney) CNN (AOL/Time Warner) Big 5 Media FOX (News Corp) NBC (GE) CBS (Viacom) ABC (Disney) CNN (AOL/Time Warner) What are the implications/ramifications if only 5 companies control magazines, newspapers, TV, radio, newspapers, Internet, film, etc.?

Advertiser~Audience This program is brought to you by the sponsor. You are brought to the sponsor by the program.

Critical thinking questions Who produces/pays for media? Who produces/pays for media? For what purpose(s) was it made? For what purpose(s) was it made? For which ‘target audience(s)’? For which ‘target audience(s)’? What techniques does the messenger What techniques does the messenger use to attract attention? Who or what is omitted and why? Who or what is omitted and why? How do we know what it means? How do we know what it means? Does it contain bias or stereotypes? Does it contain bias or stereotypes?

Techniques

Techniques

Techniques

Techniques

Techniques

Techniques The box of Oreos was not in the original NBC “Friends:” it was placed there virtually for DVD/syndication exposure

Techniques well known case well known case of the digital of the digital creation of a magazine cover creation of a magazine cover featuring a woman who does featuring a woman who does not exist not exist

Body Image The subjective concept of one's physical appearance based on self- observation and reactions of others. (American Heritage) The subjective concept of one's physical appearance based on self- observation and reactions of others. (American Heritage)

Body Image- Studies Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that the more adolescent and pre-adolescent girls read fashion magazines, the more likely they were to diet and to feel unhappy about their bodies. (USA Today 1/18/2006) Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that the more adolescent and pre-adolescent girls read fashion magazines, the more likely they were to diet and to feel unhappy about their bodies. (USA Today 1/18/2006)

Body Image- Statistics 69% of teens read a magazine in a typical day 69% of teens read a magazine in a typical day Real Teens: A Contemporary Snapshot of Youth Culture ( by George Barna )

Body Image- Statistics 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner 45% of boys and girls in grades 3-6 want to be thinner 45% of boys and girls in grades 3-6 want to be thinner 37% have already dieted 37% have already dieted 6.9% score in the Eating Disorder range 6.9% score in the Eating Disorder range 51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about selves when dieting 51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about selves when dieting 9% of 9 year old have vomited to lose weight 9% of 9 year old have vomited to lose weight 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies 78% of 18 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies 78% of 18 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies The #1 wish of girls years old is to lose weight The #1 wish of girls years old is to lose weight source: Body Wars: Making Peace with Women's Bodies by Margo Maine, Ph.D. source: Body Wars: Making Peace with Women's Bodies by Margo Maine, Ph.D.

Body Image- Studies "....unrealistically thin young women are often used in advertisements for everything from soft drinks to cars..... previous research has already shown that such advertising contributes to negative body images among young girls and women." (UK News story, Aug. 31, 2005)

Body Image- Studies Males impacted: "Action figures present subtle messages of unrealistic role models of well-sculpted, heavily muscled, 'perfect' bodies that little boys see as their role models.“ Sondra Kronberg, director and co-founder of Eating Disorder Associates Treatment & Referral Centers Males impacted: "Action figures present subtle messages of unrealistic role models of well-sculpted, heavily muscled, 'perfect' bodies that little boys see as their role models.“ Sondra Kronberg, director and co-founder of Eating Disorder Associates Treatment & Referral Centers

Body Image- Studies According to statistics posted by the National Institute on Media and the Family, by age 13, some 53 percent of American girls are unhappy with their bodies; that figure grows to 78 percent by the time girls reach 17. In another study on fifth graders, 10-year-old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show Friends. And adolescent girls who viewed commercials depicting unrealistically thin models felt "less confident, more angry, and more dissatisfied with their weight and appearance." According to statistics posted by the National Institute on Media and the Family, by age 13, some 53 percent of American girls are unhappy with their bodies; that figure grows to 78 percent by the time girls reach 17. In another study on fifth graders, 10-year-old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show Friends. And adolescent girls who viewed commercials depicting unrealistically thin models felt "less confident, more angry, and more dissatisfied with their weight and appearance."

Body Image: Are things changing? New Dove Ad Campaign Just My Size Ad Just My Size Ad

Body Image-Resources

Other Resources CDC produced curriculum CDC produced curriculum Media Sharp: Analyzing Alcohol & Tobacco Messages